War in Ukraine

Most of these blogs are about our own safe lives in our 2nd floor apartment in Princeton, New Jersey.  I have written about the world beyond our walls when I wrote about Covid and the presidential transition last year as well as the January 6 insurrection (called "legitimate political discourse" by the                                                                         Republican National Committee.)

As I post today about the conflict in Ukraine, I hope and pray that this can be the first and last post about it and that the Russian invasion does not escalate into a larger war.  Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, considers Ukraine a historic part of Russia.  It once was a part of the Soviet Union.  Ukraine wants to be free to be a part of NATO if it chooses.  That is anathema to Putin.

There has been a lot of posturing in the last few weeks with Russian troops on the border of Ukraine and in Belarus.  But in the last 24 hours, it appears that Russia has crossed the border and there is fighting and a loss of lives on both sides.  People are fleeing Kyiv, the capital city.  They are lining up to get money out of ATMs and to buy food and gas for their vehicles.  

Church of the Savior, our church in South Bend, has a connection with Ukraine because they sponsor George and Sarah DeVuyst as missionaries there.  Blessedly, they are in the USA right now on home service but they must be very anxious for their congregation and friends in Kyiv.  Our church also sponsors the Van Zanens who work in a Bible college in Lithuania.  They write that a large proportion of their students are from Ukraine and Belarus.  

President Biden has begun sanctions against Russia.  No one wants to send US troops to fight a war in Europe but there are troops being sent as support to neighboring countries and equipment is being sent as well.  There is the threat of more dire sanctions but they don't seem to be making Putin back down.  

I wonder what the Russian people think of all of this.  Those who are opposed to the war are not free to speak up without dire consequences--poisoning and prison in the case of Navalny, one opposition leader that we know of.  Surely the Russian people do not want their sons and daughters to have to fight for Putin's goals.  And how far will the US go to defend Ukraine's right to autonomy? 

It is a very dangerous time.  We are watching the news closely and we are praying for peace.

An excerpt of a prayer from George DeVuyst sent out today: 

Help us to take action to bring peace, to care for the victims of war, and to work for justice. Help us to live according to the principles of your Kingdom today, and to remain faithful until your Kingdom comes fully at your return. Grant courage to your church in Russia, in Ukraine, and here to speak truth to power and to prophetically proclaim the truths of your Kingdom as well as the day of grace that still remains for those who repent.  

Lord, we pray for Vladimir Putin. We pray that you would change his heart and work your miracle of salvation in his life. If he continues in his wicked ways, we pray that you would restrain his evil and have mercy on those who suffer because of it.

In all these things, we trust you, because you are our loving Father. We ask that you would keep us faithful by the power of your Spirit and that you would be with your church in Ukraine—that in times of war it would faithfully follow you and represent you before the nations. 

Heal the wounds, we pray, both physical and the wounds of the heart. Reconcile the nations with you and with each other by the power of the cross of our reigning Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.